DARK NOCTURNE

a night owl's blog

In the last several weeks, there’s been a little safety problem with the new apartment building under construction, the one directly across the street from me: The neighborhood kids have been using the building frame as a jungle gym.

Initially, I wasn’t planning to say anything, as I expected nothing to be done, but last Saturday, the same two boys from the previous week were not only in the building, they were on it, walking and lying on the roof.

In addition, at 1:00 Sunday morning, less than 24 hours later, three people were sitting on top of the building. I couldn’t make out genders or age, but there were definitely three bodies.

Clearly, this was getting out of hand.

I sent a blanket e-mail to the architect, the crime prevention specialist for our precinct, and the city council person telling them what I saw and included four pictures of the boys on the roof and in the building so they could see for themselves.

Believe it or not, I got a response from the city council person’s office. They forwarded an e-mail from the building inspector, who ordered the contractor to install more fencing and no trespassing signs. And believe it or not again, the contractor put up fencing.

Long story short: Shit got taken care of, and quickly too. Hey, I’m just as surprised as you are; I just hope it curbs the problem.